Shelving construction



Feb. e, 1934. 11E. BALES 1,945,501

SHELVING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 50, 1931 James ales,

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,945,507 I sHELvING CONSTRUCTION James E. Bales, Aurora, Ill., vassignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application September 30, 1931 Serial No. 566,035

3 Claims.

My invention relates to shelving, particularly metallic shelving of the knock-down variety, and by the term shelving, I mean to include shelving with or without end closures, back closures, and/or partitions. When the shelving is open, it is usually referred to as a rack, and the sheets which form the backs, ends, and/or partitions of the enclosed shelving are commonly referred to as panels.

The general object of the invention is to provide a structure of the class described with simple and efficient means for connecting the shelves to the panels.

A more specific object is to provide a brace so constructed that it may be readily attachable and detachable with a minimum of fastening devices.

A further object is to provide a brace whichv will form a strong and firm support for the shelf at the extreme edge thereof and will afford a sup- Iplemental supporting and bracing effect to the shelf at a point more or less remote from the edge of the shelf.

A further object is to provide certain details of construction, which, taken together, make it possible to accomplish the objects above stated.

I accomplish my objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective showing shelving embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Like numerals denote like parts in both views.

In the form of shelving shown, there is an up- 'right 15 which has a back 18 running parallel with the back of the shelving. This forms an abutment for the panel 17, which, in the illustrated form, constitutes a closure for the back of the structure. The upright and certain associatj ed parts form the subject of a separate application, filed by me July 31, 1931, Serial No. 554,290. In this form, the upright has a B-shaped crosssection having two spaced parallel flanges 25 and vertically arranged slots 27, the functions wherej of are described in said copending application.

The shelf 13 is of sheet metal and has a depending flange 3l extending along the edge for abutting the panel 1'7. At the bottom, flange 31 has an inturned portion 32.

The shelf may be secured to the upright in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the key 35; but this forms nc part of my present invention.

The brace 85, with which my present invention is chieiiy concerned, has a portion 86 which, when i assembled, extends vertically and makes close (c1. 21u-15s) contact with the inside of the panels 17. These panels have apertures 67 locatedat spaced intervals for receiving a tongue87 formedat the lower end of the section 86 of the brace. This tongue is narrower than the rest of the section and is bent in such manner that when the tongue is inserted through the panel, the lower end will lie in close contact with the outside of the panel, and the section 86 will lie in close contact with the inside thereof. The construction is such that when the brace is in position, it is prevented from movement in any horizontal or vertical direction relatively to the panel.

At the upper end of the sectionV 86, there is a horizontal section 88, which forms a knee for supporting the inturned portion 32 of the shelf. Connecting with the extremity of the knee is a section 90, which terminates in a horizontal section 89 adapted to abut the under-surface of the shelf at a point spaced from the panel 17. This horizontal portion 89 is secured by means of a bolt 92 or otherwise to the shelf 13, both the shelf and the brace being apertured for the purpose.

After the panel, shelf and upright have been assembled, the brace is placed by passing the tongue 8'? outwardly through the appropriate aperture 67 of the panel. The dotted lines in Figure 2 illustrate the position of the brace at this time. The brace is then swung upward to the position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, whereupon the knee 88 comes into close contact with the inturned edge 32 of the shelf and thus forms a rigid support for it. Next, the horizontal portion 89 is bolted or otherwise fastened to the shelf, and as it is of appreciable length, and, by preference, the connecting section 90 extends obliquely inward toward the central portion of the shelving, the shelf will be braced and stiffened at a point considerably remote from its edge. Thus the brace forms a rigid support at the rim of the shelf where the shelf is stiffest, and it also increases the stiffness of the shelf at the internal area thereof where a stiifening effect is advantageous. Thus, it may be said that the brace is a type of knee brace, forming a rigid support where the shelf is rigid, and forming a stiifening support where the shelf is naturally more flexible. These points of support are remote from each other, the gap being bridged by the intermediate section 90.

It will be noted that the brace requires but a single fastening device; i. e., the bolt 92, and yet when this single fastening device is in place, there is no possibility by which the brace may become jarred loose or detached from the panel.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Knock-down sheet metal shelving having a shelf having a depending flange along the edge, said ange being turned inward at the bottom, a vertically arranged sheet Inetal panel having an aperture therein, a brace having a narrow tongue at the lower end insertable in the aperture in the panel and bent so that the portions of the brace adjacent to the aperture in the panel may'lie fiat against the panel, a knee formed in the brace for engaging the lower inturned edge of the shelf, a horizontal extension at the upper end of the brace contacting the under side of the shelf at a distance from the panel for stiiening the shelf, and means for fastening the horizontal portion of the brace to the shelf.

2. The combination with a panel having an opening therein and a shelf having a depending flange, of a brace for said shelf and comprising a lower section adapted to lie flat against the panel, a tongue formed on the lower end of said section and adapted to extend through the opening in als? 1 the panel, a horizontal section at the upper end of the lower section and providing a support for the shelf flange, an upper hat portion adapted to lie flat against the bottom of the shelf, and an intermediate diagonal portion connecting the ilat upper portion and the first named horizontal portion.

3. The combination with a panel having an opening therein and a shelf having a depending flange, of a brace extending downwardly from said shelf and comprising an end portion adapted to lie ilat against the bottom of the shelf, an inclined portion extending downwardly from the at portion and formed integral therewith, an

.integral horizontal portion at the lower end of the inclined portion and forming a support for the shelf flange, a straight Vertical downwardly extending section integral with the horizontal lportion and adapted to abut said panel, and a tongue integral with the last named section and offset therefrom to extend through said opening in the panel. Y

JAMES E. BALES. 

